So many years ago when I was in Junior High School Health class the curriculum would occasionally touch on the dangers of illegal drug use. The teachers would warn us not only about the evils involved with drug use but also the terribly awful side effects.
Regardless of the illicit drug being discussed, the teaching was centered around fear. “Use drugs and you will die!!!” The fear tactics included showing us educational films that would tell the story of the time little Jimmy was pressured into popping one quaalude and jumped off a building because “he could fly” or another one that showed innocent Lucy going from captain of the cheer leading squad to a strung out junkie trading her body on the corner all because of smoking a marijuana cigarette.
It wasn't for love. No, she slept around for the reefer.
The real kicker came in 1986 with the death of college basketball star Len Bias. His early passing was all that the anti drug movement needed. At the time is was reported that Bias had died of a cardiac arrhythmia as a result of cocaine use. Reports also indicated that is was the first and only time that the basketball star had ever used cocaine. After that the drum beat got louder but the mantra being chanted was still the same, “Use drugs and you will die!!!”
I have to admit, as a kid the Len Bias thing did shake me and made me think. After all, the news shows on the TV all said he died from doing coke just one time. Just once! Maybe the teachers at school were right and drugs were a bad thing never to be used unless you want to wind up like Jimmy, Lucy or Len.
BUMS LOGIC 